Pennsylvania High School Sports

PHOTO GALLERY: Speedy Morris goes for 1,000 wins

St. Joseph’s Prep basketball coach Speedy Morris (center) can win his 1,000th game on Friday. Here he works with two players at a 2002 practice.

CHARLES FOX

St. Joseph's Prep coach William "Speedy" Morris can capture his 1,000th overall career victory when the Hawks host Lansdale Catholic in a Catholic League boys' basketball game at 3:30 p.m. Friday. Recently, Mike Jensen wrote about Morris and his impact on the game.

Here is a photo look back at the coach over his 50-year career.

FILE

Speedy Morris developed his five-fingered instruction technique way back in 1972 at Roman Catholic. Here he coaches in a loss to Monsignor Bonner.

Morris is in his 50th season of coaching at the high school and college levels.

"My whole offensive philosophy comes from Speedy,'' Fordham coach Bron Holland said. "Not a practice or game goes by without a memory popping into my head."

Morris has posted a 330-109 record (.752 winning percentage) and won two league crowns (2003 and 2004) in 17 seasons at the Prep. On Friday, the Kelly Fieldhouse doors will open at 2:30 p.m.

STEVEN M. FALK

Morris (second from right) entered the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame with Big Al Melzer (far left) and Mark Howe (second from left) on July 7, 2011. At right is Gordy Howe.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced in March that Morris was the winner of the 2017 Morgan Wootten Award for Lifetime Achievement in Coaching High School Basketball.

FILE

Morris loves to converse with the officials.

CHARLES FOX

Morris (right) is congratulated by St. George’s (Del.) coach Rod Griffin after Morris won his 700th high school game on Dec. 30, 2016.

STEVEN M. FALK

Morris poses with his team and family after beating Roman Catholic and collecting his 900th win on Feb. 3, 2012.

Morris is the winningest coach in Catholic League history and has the best winning percentage of any coach in Roman and La Salle women's history.

"I think Speedy Morris one of the most impactful people in the history of Philadelphia," John Griffin Sr. said. "Forget about sports. Sports, for sure. But I think people who have changed lives in the region. I'd put him in a very distinct group of Philadelphians."